US FTC airs concerns over allegations that Apple suppresses right-wing content on Apple News

Core Viewpoint - The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has raised concerns regarding allegations that Apple is censoring conservative content on the Apple News app, prompting a call for a review of its content curation practices [1][4]. Group 1: FTC's Concerns - FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson cited reports from the Media Research Center, alleging that Apple excluded right-leaning outlets from the top 20 articles in the Apple News feed [1]. - Ferguson expressed that these reports question whether Apple News adheres to its terms of service and consumer expectations, condemning any ideological censorship [2]. - The FTC lacks the authority to mandate Apple's ideological stance in news curation but indicated that inconsistent practices could violate the FTC Act [3]. Group 2: Support from Other Officials - Brendan Carr, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, supported Ferguson's position, asserting that Apple should not suppress conservative viewpoints [4]. - Ferguson urged Apple to conduct a comprehensive review of its terms of service and take corrective actions if necessary [4]. Group 3: Political Context - The letter from the FTC followed President Donald Trump's sharing of the Media Research Center report on his platform, Truth Social, highlighting ongoing tensions between Big Tech and conservative viewpoints [5]. - Apple's relationship with the Trump administration has fluctuated, with Trump previously criticizing Apple for manufacturing in China, but relations improved after Cook's commitment to invest over $600 billion in the U.S. [7]. Group 4: Broader Investigations - The FTC previously launched an investigation into censorship by tech platforms, seeking public input from individuals who felt silenced due to their political beliefs [8].